Again, What To Believe

Although we are enjoying the fall weather, many are starting to wonder what the upcoming winter will be like. 

It all started when the Farmers’ Almanac predicted a colder winter for most of the northern states. All of us in agriculture who deal with the weather every day are on edge.

Up until last year, the Northern Plains had a string of mild winters, except for a blizzard now and then. We were concerned with the low snowpack and the ongoing three-year drought but the mild winters were easy on the pocketbooks, and with lower cattle and sheep prices, it was welcomed. 

After a terrible winter, the heat showed up in July, and it got real toasty. Our Wyoming State Fair was one of the hottest in memory. At the Roundup Tent, we handed out around 70 cases of ice-cold bottled water to 4-H and FFA members and other fairgoers. 

Lately, we’ve heard a lot of news stories saying climate change is the reason for the extreme weather patterns we’ve experienced. The bad news is climate change is so political, we don’t know what to believe. 

One study will argue one side, while other research proves the exact opposite. It has turned some people’s lives into turmoil. Young married couples are not having children because they fear the earth is coming to an end. 

If we had listened to people in the 1990s, the Earth would have been demolished by the ‘climate emergency’ before now. Common sense on these issues has disappeared. 

I realize climate change is real. Our climate has always been changing. I believe there is some action we can take to keep our lands in good shape. Ranchers and farmers have been doing this for ages. 

But, some of the changes politicians are implementing are happening too fast and will likely hurt the country. It is all about politics.

I enjoyed a recent article I read about 1,600 scientists from around the world who joined forces by signing a declaration stating claims of a “climate emergency” threatening Earth are a hoax.

This large group of scientists, which includes two Nobel Prize winners, say the “Net Zero” goal is uncalled for, it is all political and it has been increasingly dictating government policy in recent years. In fact, it has become a fundamental part of our president’s agenda.

The declaration declares, “Biden’s unregulated and unelected climate czar John Kerry frequently cites Net Zero goals while waging war on the agriculture industry. He has repeatedly pushed for farmers to drastically reduce food production to meet these globalist goals.”

The declaration states, “Warming is happening far slower than predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate models have many shortcomings and are not remotely plausible as policy tools.”

The declaration then adds, “Even though climate alarmists characterize carbon dioxide (CO₂) as environmentally damaging, the coalition pointed out the gas is not a pollutant. CO₂ is essential to all life on Earth, is favorable for nature and helps to green up the Earth, not destroy it.” 

The coalition concludes, “There are no climate emergencies. Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs, not on sound self-critical science.” 

I agree.